Privacy, Affiliate Links, Cookies: This site uses cookies, including to identify the country you are visiting from and to measure traffic to third-party sites.

I invest a lot of time and money into running this site, and I use affiliate links to help get a little of this money back. If you click on an affiliate link and purchase anything, I will receive a small commission. These affiliate providers use cookies to understand the referrals I've made and whether an ad was shown. These cookies do not reveal your identity, web use, or other behaviour.

By continuing to use this site, you agree to the use of cookies. To learn more about what cookies are stored and how they're used, you can find my Privacy Policy here:
Privacy Policy

#Interview: Kim Savage, author of IN HER SKIN, and Jo, the star

I’m super excited to have an interview today not only with Kim Savage, the author of In Her Skin, but the star of the book herself, Jo! They talk about getting this thrilling story out there, whose skin they’d like to try on, their favourite ice cream, and more. Plus, learn more about the book, and if you’re in the US, win a copy of In Her SkinandBeautiful Broken Girls!

Q&A with Kim and Jo

Hi! Thank you so much for joining me today for a chat. Shall we start with an introduction to each of you for our readers?

Kim: I’m the author of In Her Skin, along with Beautiful Broken Girls and After the Woods. You could say I’ve spent some time in Jo’s skin.

Jo: I’m Jolene Chastain; call me Jo. You may also know me as Vivienne Weir, depending on where you are in the book.

What’s it like to have this story out in the world soon? Jo, do you want others to know about it?

Kim:In Her Skin was a thrill ride to write, and I hope it reads the same. i can’t wait to share Jo’s story with the world!

Jo: I am totally okay with my story being out there, since I learned so much from my experience with the Lovecrafts that’s worth sharing. Also, I’ve made precautions so that The Last One—and certain other people—can never find me. Just let them try.

How are you going to celebrate on release day?

Kim: I always launch my books at my local indie, Bookends in Winchester, Massachusetts. It’s so important to support indie bookstores! There will be chocolate cupcakes, and if you’ve read In Her Skin, you know how deliciously morbid that is.

Jo: With my little friend, and a second helping of frites and mayonnaise. Yes, you really, really need to finish my story to understand any of this. Trust me: it’s worth it.

Jo, you pretend to be someone else in this book. I’m wondering, and this is a question for both of you, who would you want to pretend to be for a day if you could be anyone?

Kim: Reese Witherspoon, because she is producing and directing and acting ALL THE BOOKS!

Jo: Absolutely no one but Jo Chastain. Once bitten, as they say.

What lessons have you learned during this adventure? (Be as vague as you’d like, Jo!)

Kim: Be careful what you wish for. I am so overcommitted with manuscripts due; at the same time, this is all I ever wanted. Life is good. And, my wrists hurt.

Jo: A con is another con’s easiest mark. You’ve been warned.

If you could give one piece of advice to 16-year-olds out there, what would it be?

Kim: To live in your own skin. Because it’s the best place to be.

Jo: To live in your own skin. Because your life might depend on it.

Final question! What is your favourite ice cream flavour?

Kim: Pistachio with sprinkles. The perfect combo of creamy and sweet.

Jo: Anything supersized with chocolate, marshmallow, butterscotch, and a cherry. The right-sized ice cream can provide enough fat and sugar to live off for days. I think in terms of survival, if you can’t tell.

About In Her Skin by Kim Savage

Published by: FSG

Publication date: April 17th 2018

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Mystery

Sixteen-year-old con artist Jo Chastain is about to take on the biggest heist of her life: impersonating a missing girl. Life on the streets of Boston these past few years hasn’t been easy, and Jo is hoping to cash in on a little safety, a little security. She finds her opportunity in the Lovecrafts, a wealthy family with ties to the unsolved disappearance of Vivienne Weir, who vanished when she was nine.

When Jo takes on Vivi’s identity and stages the girl’s miraculous return, the Lovecrafts welcome her back with open arms. They give her everything she could want: love, money, and proximity to their intoxicating and unpredictable daughter, Temple. But nothing is as it seems in the Lovecraft household—and some secrets refuse to stay buried. As hidden crimes come to the surface, and lines of deception begin to blur, Jo must choose to either hold onto an illusion of safety, or escape the danger around her before it’s too late.

About Kim Savage

I was born and raised in Massachusetts, on the South Shore, which sounds beachy, even luxe. Think Winnebagos and chicken coops. My three brothers, 16, 10, and 8 years older, were teens by the time I became a person. Happiest around adults, who often forgot I was there, I spent days eavesdropping on gossipy moms in lawn chairs and nights listening under the table during tipsy Scrabble parties.

My dad read to me nightly. Eventually and early, I read to myself, everywhere. On top of an enormous freezer chest stuffed with meat. On drives until I grew nauseous. In bed until my eyes gave out. I read anything I could get my hands on. V.C. Andrews and Dickens. Black Beauty and the Bible. The Economist. Madeline L’Engle and Margaret Atwood. National Geographic.

I got a bachelor’s degree in English from Stonehill College and a Master’s in Journalism from Northeastern University. For a while, I worked as a business journalist. Instead of waiting for the Federal Reserve to release the Beige Book, I pitched story ideas along the lines of “Stigmatized Properties: When Murder Kills Property Values”. You see where things were headed.

Today, I live with my family northwest of Boston in a town a lot like Shiverton, near the real Fells reservation of AFTER THE WOODS. Born with dysgeographica—I’m directionally challenged—the fear of getting lost in that lovely, dark forest lives close to my skin

Follow me

Ways to subscribe

Like what you see?

Star ratings

0: Couldn't finish1: Want my precious reading hours back2: Could have done without it3: It was good, but it's not an essential read4: Really liked it and glad I picked it up5: Absolutely loved it and would read again

Things I’ve said

Disclaimer

Unless otherwise stated, I do not claim ownership of any images or other media.

Dani Reviews Things is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk.

Dani Reviews Things is also part of The Book Depository's affiliate program.